Death Penalty Debate Essay - 1235 Words

The controversial debate over the death penalty has been going on for a very long time and still has no conclusive solution. In the United States that is, most of the rest of the civilized world has done away with the death penalty a long time ago. Many people have different views on this issue. Although, there is a consensus that heinous murders need to be severely punished, there is no consensus on the choice of that punished. The debate over the proper punishment lies between the death penalty and life in prison. Some of the issues that encompass the debate are the morality of the death penalty, the cost of the death penalty as opposed the cost of life in prison, the deterrent effect of the death penalty, family consideration of what†¦show more content†¦It is definitely true that money should not be an issue when it comes to fighting crime and saving peoples lives. However, it is also true that it is necessary to logically and rationally choose the best way to spend th e available money for crime-fighting. In the case of the death penalty, so much extra money is spent in legal procedures and appeals that could be spent toward other more deterrent and efficient ways to fighting crime, such as increased police forces, more funding for the war on guns, and other crime-fighting initiatives. In the economic sense, the death penalty is clearly not the smartest and most efficient way to fight crime. One of the most important issues in the debate is the deterrent effect of the death penalty. Deterrent effect, meaning that by having the death penalty as an available form of punishment it will deter future murders from committing their crimes. So supposedly, by instilling this fear of death a murderer will be forced to think twice before they kill. This is not the case, as many studies have shown that the death penalty does not have a deterrent effect. For instance, the homicide rates in states that do have the death penalty and those that dont are generally the same. Furthermore, when states have established the death penalty they have not seen their homicide rates fall (Barkan p. 498). A global statistic that disproves the deterrent effect of the death penalty is that the United States, which inShow MoreRelatedThe Debate On Death Penalty1447 Words   |  6 PagesThe debate on death penalty In her book Last Words From Death Row: The Walls Unit, Norma Herrera writes about the tribulations she and her family went through while trying to free her brother, Leonel, from the death row. Despite showing glaring and overwhelming evidence claiming his innocence, Leonel was sentenced to death for a crime that he did not commit. His last words to the world were, â€Å"I am innocent, innocent, innocent. I am an innocent man, and something very wrong is taking place tonightRead MoreDeath Penalty Debate2037 Words   |  9 PagesDeath Penalty Debate Paper BCOM/275 The death penalty is an issue that has continually created conflict in today’s society. Many people arguing whether or not the death penalty should exist. Who’s to say whether the death penalty is a form of justice and therefore a valid and appropriate punishment or whether it is a â€Å"cruel and unusual† form of punishment. â€Å"The Arizona Supreme Court threw out the death sentences for a Tucson man who bludgeoned his girlfriend and her two childrenRead MoreThe Debate On The Death Penalty1597 Words   |  7 PagesThe debate on the death penalty has been the ongoing question for generations. There are plenty of different sides to take on this issue. You have the side where some people think that putting prisoners to death is inhumane and that no matter what they did putting a human to death is wrong. 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Well, that depends on whom you ask. If you ask me†¦ no. I personally don’t see anything wrong with the death penalty because there are a lot of criminals that are just too dangerous to society and death is the onlyRead MoreThe Death Penalty Debate Essay746 Words   |  3 PagesThe Death Penalty Debate To kill or not to kill. That is the question. Some people think it is wrong; however, a close look into the matter will show it is the right thing to do. The Bible states thou shall not kill but it also states an eye for eye. The death penalty is the worst and most deserved punishment for those who choose to take a life. There is no excuse for a life to be taken; therefore, the murderer should be punished to the full extent. Imagine a lovedRead MoreThe Debate Over Death Penalty1618 Words   |  7 PagesProfessor Reiner Writing 39C 7/20/16 Debates over Death Penalty in the United States The issue of death penalty today is a popular topic for numerous public and scholarly discussions. 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One of the points it brought up was the cost of life withoutRead MoreThe Debate Of Banning The Death Penalty877 Words   |  4 PagesPublic Executions The United States has been going through the debate of banning the death penalty for decades; however, it continues to remain at a standstill as crime rates continue to stay the same throughout the country. The people for continuing the death penalty happens to see their group split in to two groups. One for the private executions and the other for public. Public executions can do many things like deter crimes from happening, giving the victims closure, and finding the right kind